[chantellehere]

Expensive mistakes I’ve made so you can avoid them

Even if you’ve got the cash to splash, you want to make sure you’re splashing it in the right things. This is all the more true when you don’t have the cash to splash and want to keep your spending to the minimum.

As a student and now, an au pair, I don’t have a pot of gold or a trust fund for my holidays. However, this shouldn’t stop me, or anyone, from travelling the world and visiting nice new places. You just need to know how to do it. I’ve done it many times, but along the way, I’ve also made some expensive mistakes, silly ones, ones which you should avoid making too! Here are several lessons I’ve learnt from my most recent trip.

1. Don’t give into overpriced restaurants recommendations

Sure, your trusted travel bloggers and travel websites recommended some truly amazing and authentic diners for you to visit, but the fact that they can afford it - if they weren’t being sponsored or gifted - doesn’t mean it is the best choice for your budget. There are many equally authentic and delicious local foods out there. Why, sometimes the cheaper it is, the better! Think about it, if it is so authentically local, would the people living there be willing to pay an extortionate amount for something they like to have every day? Would you be willing to pay £20 for a simple fish and chips in your local chippy? Perhaps not.

If you are dying to go there, go, but make sure you research and google the restaurant before you do. Have a look at its menu and see if it is worth the price, in your opinion. Ideally, this should be done before your trip, especially before you get hungry because, trust me, when you’re hungry, you make some irrational decisions and end up settling for something so over your budget that as soon as you have your first bite, you’d regret.

It all boils down to what dining experience you are looking for. If you are looking for a specific dish, I’m sure many restaurants do it. (eg. you can find tagliatelle al ragu almost everywhere in Bologna, from 6/7€ to 15/20€. The difference is the atmosphere, the setting and the location of the restaurant.

Ask a local for recommendations, that could be your Airbnb/ Couchsurfing host, a local tour guide or a random stranger on the street! There are also many travel groups on facebook where you can join for travellers like yourself to recommend and seek recommendations.

2. If you’re really on a tight budget, bring your own snacks/ shop from (super)markets.

This sounds like the most tragic thing ever but there is only so much you need to try in one place. Bringing snacks/ cooking your own meals will help you avoid spending unnecessary money on food and put those towards activities you could do whilst you’re there, or maybe another holiday perhaps?

Join a free walking tour. Usually, the guides would take you through areas which restaurants that they would recommend, so this could be a way of ticking things off/ adding things onto your list. If they don’t or if you want more, you could always ask them during/ at the end of the tour!

3. Skip breakfast

Usually, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. For some reason, I always wake up starving. However, when you’re travelling on a budget, you probably don’t have the luxury to have a full English or an avocado toast every single day.

If you don’t want to skip it entirely, get a pastry + coffee on the go. They’re usually pretty cheap. I got one for 1,20€ in Naples but they shouldn’t cost more than 3/4€ max anyways.

If you can brave it for a couple of hours, then treat yourself to a bigger lunch (brunch). Combine both meals so that you spend less than you would if you were to buy both separately.

4. Aperitif/ aperitivo/ apero

Instead of dinner, act local and opt for an aperitive! This basically means you buy a drink and it usually comes with food. This could vary from finger food to a buffet worth of choices! It is a very economical and fun way to spend your evening without starving yourself!

One thing if you’re alone and it’s a buffet type aperitive. Make sure you do not leave your drink unattended somewhere far away from where you are going to get food. I just don’t trust strangers, not all of them. I also get that taking your drink with you may 1) be inconvenient, 2) seems suspicious. If you must leave it on the table, sit somewhere where it’s easy for you to keep an eye on your drink and/or other possessions, when you’re up and about.

I wasted most of my delicious frozen daiquiri out of fear of being spiked, even though he probably didn’t. Nonetheless, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

5. Join a free walking tour

I absolutely love free walking tours. It allows me to sieve out what I want to do or see in the city, as they usually cover most of the main attractions and things on everyone’s to-do list. I always book onto one early in the morning on the first day if I can, so that I could decide earlier on what is worth my time and what isn’t. Whilst most walking tours only take you to the outside of monuments and cathedrals, the guides usually provide a very detailed description of the places, allowing you to decide whether you want to revisit it at some point during your stay in the city. My favourite tour company is Sandemans Tour. They cover most big European cities and a few in the states too. Their guides are always energetic and enthusiastic! 

It is a free tour in the sense that you are not obliged to pay at the end of the tour. But I always tip because I usually enjoy it. And in the words of our last tour guide in Seville, he says ‘Remember that time you paid £5/7 to see an Adam Sandler’s movie in the cinema for an hour or two. Think about how much you enjoyed it, and compare it with this tour.’ At the end of the day, this is their job, this is their way of making a living. Remember.

[chantellehere]

The little things

On the metro, I sometimes read, I sometimes listen to a podcast. This time, it was the latter. I was listening to Dolly Alderton’s Love Stories with the amazing author Matt Haig, and near the end of the podcast, he shared a poem listing all the things he enjoys when he thought he’d never enjoy them again, which can be found near the end of his first book, Reason to Stay Alive. I also recently watched Jenn Im’s video, In My Feelings, which she describes as "a gentle reminder to you (and me) to remember and cherish the little moments in life that make us feel warm and fulfilled.” Taking inspiration from both of these inspiring humans, I decided to come up with my own list of little things (not at the creative level to compose a poem or make a nicely-edited video about it yet)

Woken up by the warm from the sunlight

Waking up to his text

Being alone with my book and a cuppa

Identifying with something inside the book

Playing out scenes as I read

Listening to my favourite podcasts

Waking up with nothing on my to-do list

Eating chocolate, Haribos and Percy Pigs

Eating fruits, especially when cut nicely and put in a bowl

Drinking real hot chocolate, dairy-free chai latte or green tea

Having sushi for lunch or dinner (preferably both)

Anticipation of having spicy ramen (not really the process of eating itself)

Eating veggies, lots of veggies

Baking, especially banana bread or anything chocolately

Finishing a tub of Halo ice cream without feeling guilty

Licking the remains of peanut butter off the knife/ spoon

Eating/ drinking lemon, ginger, honey water

Simple garlic and olive oil pasta

Finishing a book

The smell of lavender

The smell of fresh laundry

Clean bedsheets

My room after I tidied it

Putting on a nice outfit

Making an effort with how I look

When my hair curls nicely

Receiving flowers

Finishing an article

When my writing doesn’t suck

Taking nice photos

When I’m not hooked on Instagram

Finally working out

The feeling after the workout

Recycling

Knowing I’ve made a conscious effort to be environmentally friendly

Talking to my grandparents

Watching the Sound of Music and singing along to the soundtrack

Watching Crazy Rich Asians and seeing how Asians thrive in Hollywood and everywhere

Listening to Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, Dua Lipa...

Watching Marie Kondo tidying people’s houses

Netflix and chill (mostly chill)

Having a G&T with Edinburgh Elderflower and Ginger Gin (the absolute best)

Talking to my friends who live far away online or on the phone 

When friends message me out of the blue/ after a long time

When they say they miss me

Facetiming him

Our Snapchat streak

Finally seeing him in person after too many months

After poop

Showering

Coming out of a long bath

Booking holidays

Scoring cheap flights

Not paying full price

When he makes an effort, surprises me

Looking at photos 

Recalling Uni days

Writing my journal and getting carried away with it

When the kids behave

When they say ‘good morning/ good night/ sorry/ thank you Chantelle’

When they hold my hand, give me a hug/ kiss

When they like the presents I got them

When they are affectionate with their parents

When they say something nice without realising

Having dinner with my host family after a long day

When we joke around the dinner table

When they enjoy my food and want seconds

Dessert (especially cheese, homemade chocolate treats, lemon yogurt)

Washing my face after a mask

Pealing a clay mask off

Changing out of my bra

Completing my skincare routine before bed

Going to sleep after a good day

The smell of my bunny

[chantellehere]

Ferrara in Five Hours

New day, new me, new city.

Since I pretty much saw everything in Bologna yesterday, I decided to head to a nearby city for a day trip.

Before I caught the train from the central station, which isn’t very central by the way - 27 minutes walk from the city centre, I thought I’d check out the Earth Markets, an open-air food/ grocery market not too far away from the station. Considering it only opens once a week, from 9h to14h every Saturday, I wouldn’t have liked to miss that.

Families, elderly couples all gathered in the square where the markets were. The aroma of freshly made bread, honey, cheese and wine filled the air. The weather also decided to be pleasant for this joyous weekly event. If I hadn’t had to catch a train, I would have loved to sit there with a glass of white and some cheese or freshly baked pastries, or both. There was also hot food serving on the other side of the market, the smell of which was too inviting, too irresistible.

Reluctantly, I left and walked past a park that I had marked on my Google Map during my research, which is now crowded with stalls and packed with sweaty Italians, haggling for the best bargain. Quickly, I left the markets and headed towards the station for my 11h22 train to Ferrara.

~

I just finished my daily cornetto and stumbled upon this beautiful green space in the middle of Ferrara. It seems like parks are quite a big thing here, seeing this is the third one I’ve stumbled upon in this small town. My legs, dangling in the air as I rest comfortably on the bench. It is rather high but very, very comfortable. Solid wooden support.

So many couples are getting with each other, planting sloppy kisses on one another. Kids kicking balls, boy bands singing and playing the guitars, friends gathering around the picnic blanket, men walking dogs, parents pushing the praams and babies sleeping in the strollers.

When I first arrived early in the afternoon, I headed straight to the Este Castle, which is situated right in the centre of the city and all the other spots on my To Visit list. For students, it’s €6 to get into the museum and an extra €2 to visit the Torre des Leoni, from which you get a panoramic view of Ferrara. Lucky for me, the sky was not as foggy as forecasted and the sun was out.

After spending just under two hours at the castle, I went around the markets, the one right behind the castle sells arts and crafts, but there are lots more near the Piazza Tento-Trieste, which is gorgeous with streets if ombre coloured houses running along it. There were people dressed up as medieval characters in the piazza and around the town hall. Perhaps there was a festival going on.

From the markets, I walked towards the Museo de Caso Romei, an old house built entirely with Biblical reference. Not big, but was pretty cool. The suggested time to spend at the museum was an hour and a half to two hours, but I finished the entire two stories in about an hour to 45 minutes. I wonder if I am not cultured enough to spend so little time in museums.

My stomach rumbled but I wasn't in the mood for a proper meal. Instead, I treat myself to a gelato, because this is money worth spending when in Italy.

Before I even arrived at Gelateria La Romana, I could already smell the sweet aroma of the waffle cones and the sweeter fragrances of the gelato. The queue was understandably long and I had a hard time deciding since everything was in Italian and there were at least 20 flavours to choose from. I panicked and chose a berry cream flavoured one and another biscotti flavour. Needless to say, it was delicious and I was very satisfied with my decision.

You can try a few of the flavours before deciding, but obviously, don’t take the piss and be mindful that there are many people waiting behind you.

I took the rest of my cone with me and walked down Via Monsignore Boveli, struggling to capture the beauty I see around me with hand-and-mouthful of gelato.

In less than five hours, I’ve seen all but one of the sites on my list - the Diamanti Palace, which has an entrance fee of €11 even for students. So I settled for a few photos in the courtyard and the exterior, which is covered in diamond-shaped stones, hence the name of the Palace, before catching my 17h40 train back to Bologna, which only took 50 minutes.

[chantellehere]

Going Solo

It’s always nice to finish work early, even nicer when a trip awaits. Thursday morning I was minding three little ones, by nighttime, I found myself in Bologna, a beautiful city in the north of Italy. Although I know spag bol doesn’t come from Bologna, I was craving a lovely plate of pasta. As soon as I dropped my bags at the Airbnb and had a quick shower, I went out to the city centre on the look out for my perfect plate of pasta. Being highly indecisive and also wanting to minimise cost, I ended up spending an hour and a bit before I sat down in the back room of La Traviata, a restaurant recommended on lonely planet, or some other trusted travel websites. And because by the time I got to the restaurant, I was starving. I promised myself that no matter how much it cost, I’d sit down and finally have my evening meal, at nine o’clock. 

The place was sophisticated and quiet, which should’ve been a sign - seeing I am a budget traveller, not one to splurge and definitely not on a plate of pasta. Hunger has taken over my senses and I almost immediately regretted it as soon as I opened the menu. €11 for a tagliatelle al ragu = fancy spag bol. It was the cheapest thing on the menu so I hurriedly placed my order, without wine or water. Why isn’t tap water an option?!

The €11 was rich in flavour but smaller than I was expecting, given the price tag. As my friend pointed out, it looked like five strands of pasta. And it felt like it. I wanted more. I am no pasta connoisseur and I don’t know what a proper tagliatelle al ragu taste like but it was delicious, might have been a little on the salty side but delicious nonetheless. 

Water costs in most Italian restaurants. Also, they charge you for service, and it doesn’t seem to be discretionary either. (I paid €3 for them to bring me my plate of pasta just to take it away five minutes later)

1/3/2019, Friday

As I do in every city I visit, I booked onto a free walking tour to acquaint myself with the city and its history. Since Sandeman don’t organise walking tours in Bologna, I went for the JM Walking Tour, which turns out to be a charity for people in wheelchairs, since Italian roads are not very wheelchair friendly. The tour was, as always, informative and ticked off most places I had dotted on my list of things to see. 

Having seen most of the city centre, I spent over an hour after lunch navigating my way to the famous San Luca, a basilica church on top of the hill. Honestly, what would I do without it and how did people live back than before google map was invented?

At first, the Ali seemed ok, all straight roads, although for some reason google maps led me to an old neighbourhood rather than the start of the 666 arches that takes you straight from the city centre to the hill. Clothes were coming off later by layer as the walk continued. 

I’m sat here now at the top of San Luca, looking directly at the church on the hill, bright orange, with a bit of yellow and a bit of brown but nothing else. I suppose the fact they build this on the hill is pretty amazing by other than that, I’m not sure if I’ll ever climb all the way up here again.

Of course, classic me, I chose the foggiest day to come to this place where people come here for nothing but the view, which I now can barely see. The tour guide did say come in the evening when it’s dark but as a solo female traveller who can never be mistaken as a local, I’d rather play it safe and come up here earlier when it’s still bright. Also, since I have basically seen all of Bologna today - I had no idea it was this small! - I thought I could spend tomorrow at another city nearby, possible Ferrara, since it’s the closest one by train - only 30-50 minutes away. 

Although not as tiring as the walk up hill, my walk back to the city centre took about the same amount of time. It’s interesting and relaxing to walk in one direction for such a prolonged period of time without your earphones plugged in and the top 40 chart music filling your head. You hear people you walk pass talking in different languages, with different voices. One lady spoke like she was signing the opera but I’m pretty sure that was her normal voice. You hear the lucky badgers in the vehicular next to you, speaking down that hill in a quarter of the time it takes for you to tread down, dogs barking behind the gates, birds chirping even at 5pm and others walking with heavy steps. 

As I continued following the arches, I fantasied about the gelato I’m going to have. Lucky for me, as if it was meant to be, the path I was on let me straight to Cremeria Santo Stefano, a gelato shop that was highly recommended on most lists online. For €3,50, I had a taste of heaven in three different flavours. I bloody deserved it. 

Still hungry, I walked around the same area of Piazza Maggiore for about an hour and still had not decided on a place for aperitivo. Finally, my stomach rambled so aggressively, giving me the permission to spend money I would otherwise save up. I walked into one do the restaurants I stumbled upon last night but decided against for reasons I no longer remember. 

I sat down and ordered a frozen daiquiri and got up and loaded my plate with food. The joy of Aperitivo. Buy a drink and get unlimited supply of food for free. With a full plate in hand, I headed back towards my place to find a perfectly round pizza that I had not ordered in front of me. 

“Gratuito” said the man at the table to my left. 

“Free?” I tried to confirm, to which the lady next to him nodded. I happily tucked into my added freebie. 

As I ate, my stomach seem to open it’s mouth wider, keeping me up on my feet every two minutes to get more food, leaving my drink unattended. A man sat next to me and started staring, making me extremely uncomfortable. At one point, he spoke to me, to which I shook my head to indicated my lack of understanding and my lack of interest in conversing with him. I tried to down a few more slices of my pizza but had left my drink untouched, worried it might have been spiked. (I know, I was probably overreacting and overdramatising the whole situation but better safe than sorry no?)

His gaze never left my direction, unless he got up and got food. (I know this sounds like some erotica but trust me, it was more of a thriller) How does one even eat properly without paying attention to his plate? I waited for him to do another round of food loading and got up, paid the bill and left hurriedly. Most of my daiquiri was left untouched, which was such a shame, such a waste. Italy really creeps me out sometimes. Me in this country is like my white friends in Vietnam. Honestly, I’m just trying to have a good time here, alone. 

[chantellehere]

thank me later

Every Wednesday, children in France either have only half a day at school or no school at all. To stop mine from spending the entire day in front of the TV, I promised to bake something different every week as a Wednesday activity/ treat. This week, we - I - decided on chocolate cookies, seeing that for the past two weeks, we baked, rather unsuccessfully, chocolate brownies. It turns out to be the best goûte we’ve created so far and very popular amongst the kids.

The original recipe was taken from Tastemade. This is my improvised version with measurements converted more suited to the European system.

Ingredients:

150g butter, melted

305-310g dark chocolate, melted

210g flour

brown sugar

dash of vanilla sugar/ extract

pinch of salt

3 eggs

Steps:

Preheat oven to 165 C.

Break chocolate and melt it in a bowl over boiling water.

Add butter and continue melting.

In another mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients and eggs.

Use an electronic whisk to mix everything in the dry ingredients bowl before pouring int he melted chocolate and butter in.

Mix well and leave it in the fridge for about 30 minutes or however long it takes to harden.

Once the mixture is hardened, scoop them by the tablespoon and place them on the baking sheet. Be sure to leave enough space between each ball for them to expand without sticking onto one another.

Put it in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Serve it warm, with milk!

[chantellehere]

Book club xxx

To be honest, I set up the book club as an excuse to meet new people. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a total loner. I do have friends, although I do very much enjoy my own company and the company of fictional characters or brilliant authors.

After a night of wild, deafening storm, the first meet up happened on Saturday at the spacious Le REcycleire. The facebook event says 9 going but it always turns out less. We had a large secluded space at the end of the restaurant with a boardroom table to ourselves, quickly claiming it to be our official book club meeting room. All went well, as we waited in turns for our coffees, sneaking back free bread from the basket and exchanging our Parisian experience so far. Although we were all brought together by our mutual love of reading, we had so much more in common that we only shared a few words on books because we felt obliged to. We vowed that the next meeting will be more book orientated, we hope.

Expecting the book club to end after an hour, I had nothing planned but to return flat and finish One Day in December, which I started only the day before but am already near the end. Alas, we only wrapped up the meeting two and a half hours later because the man presumably, since we understood little to no French, said they needed it back in 15 minutes.

A few others like me had no plans until dinner so we agreed to some well-deserved beverages after a long week of work (despite what my mother thinks, au pairing is hard work, not a year of holiday.) We went into this red-lit bar that resembles a strip club with no one but the bartender in there. We were there for the 5€ cocktails, nothing else. By the time we emptied our drinks, the bar filled up, like a legend reborn, the place came alive. And by some amazing luck, miss bartended offered us a free drink each, after we paid l’addition. Never saying no to free drinks, we set back down with our glasses refilled with an extra three shots, we resumed our conversation, exchanging our darkest secrets and firing compliments and the joy we felt for meeting one another across the table.

Realising it was time 15 minutes until dinner time and that I was at least half an hour away from home, we left. My head spinning and feeling a familiar kind of giddiness I have not had since university. Since the New Year, I have adopted a new habit of pairing my evening meal with a glass of wine or two. Yet, they did not prepare me for tonight, for my reunion with gin, especially those extra shots that the bartender has generously thrown in for free. I texted my host dad to inform him that I will be back soon and sent with an xxx and without proofreading. OH lord, I felt so embarrassed I almost sobered up. Thankfully, the French are not familiar with the written bisous and I got back in time for dinner, which I politely had another two glasses of wine with.

The night was long and I renewed my vows to not drink anymore before I drifted off.

[chantellehere]

Dipping into the Roman Bath

Last weekend, I escaped Paris to Bath with my cousin. While it all sounds pretty amazing, which it was, despite the weather, I woke up 4am (GMT+1) to get my Eurostar, from Gare du Nord to London St Pancras, St Pancras to Paddington, Paddington to Cheltenham, stopping at Swindon, then Cheltenham to Bath. I was only able to peel my arse off the train seats at 1pm (GMT-0).

As soon as we arrived at Bath, we checked in and dropped our bags off at the hotel. We couldn’t wait to get some food into our system and to wander around this ancient town. Unfortunately, the weather had not been great and the rain did not stop pouring down, so we postponed our sightseeing til the next day. We did get some shopping done and ended the day with a big fat Chinese meal at Eat Meets West. 

- Sunday -

Woke up nice and early just so we could fit all the sightseeing in before we stop by Bristol on the way back to Cheltenham in the afternoon. The Roman Bath is undoubtedly the most iconic landmark in town. Since it opens at 10, we had half an hour to spare and went to the Parade Gardens nearby for a quick stroll and saw the Pulteney Bridge. We had much better luck with the weather today. Despite the chilliness, the sun was shining and our moods lifted.

Getting lost (metaphorically) in the gardens, we didn’t make it to the Roman Bath at 10am exactly, only about 10 minutes after. The queue was already filling up but most of it was for people in groups so individuals could skip the queue. We walked around with our audioguide that came with our tickets and the entire view was just stunning. Listening to Bill Bryson narrates what each part of the tour means and how the appearance of each remnant of the architecture was significant really brought the entire experience to life. Imagine, people fought here, died here and bathe here.

We intended to go inside the Abbey but since it was Sunday, they had services running all day except for a small gap at around 1:30pm, which we would’ve left by then. More reason to come back now. Before we left, we pigged out at Beyond the Kale, a quirky little vegan restaurant near Bath College, right inside an indoor market. 

When I first came across their Instagram (because this is how research is carried out these days), I told my cousin about it and the first thing she said was ‘I’m not vegan.’ I said, ‘I know, me neither, but a lot of the things you eat are vegan anyway, without specifically labelling it. And vegan food doesn’t have to be boring and uninteresting.’ She immediately agreed to breakfast there as soon as she saw how amazing their food looked on Instagram. It tasted even better in real life. I ordered a hot super juice and the açai bowl, while she, a hot chocolate, gluten-free pancakes (which I expected it to taste like cardboard but turns out super delicious!) and a banana bread to share (which is toasted so was warm and crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside). We could just about finished it and was absolutely stuffed.

We didn’t plan to go to Bristol originally, only decided on our way to Bath after we realized the two towns were only 15 minutes apart by train, plus I really wanted to take advantage of the Zara sale in England (because Zara in France costs more!)

As expected, Bristol wasn’t as photogenic or historical as Bath. It definitely is much more industrial. But on the bright side, they had a more extensive selection of stores to shop from and supposedly a wider variety of Asian food on offer. Since we were still full from brunch, we spent most of our time shopping, only stopped to get a mini cheeseburger at FiveGuys and a couple of Ben’s Cookies, before I saw my little cousin off and reattached myself to a 4-hour coach to London to stay with my best friend for the night, since my Eurostar back to Paris was at 7am the next day. The joy and glamorous life of travelling.

[chantellehere]

Books I’ve read since I arrived Paris

Originally this was going to be an end of year post about books I’ve read up until that point. Alas no, I never got around to typing this blog post up and left it until now, on a supposedly snowy day in January (currently looking out of the window for the snow that has yet to fall). So here are all the books I have read from when I arrived in September, until now.

1) The Moth: All These Wonders

Back in the Summer, I did a book exchange with a friend back home. I sent her The Time Travellers’ Wife and in return, she gave me two books, both of which turned out to be amazing collections of short stories, not something that I would normally go for. This is perhaps my favourite out of the two. The Moth is originally a podcast for storytellers to share their stories, real stories. This is a collection of 49 new true stories from people who have experienced all kinds of things in life, from the loss of a loved one to growing up in multiple foster homes. The most poignant story was the very last one, called Forgiveness, by Hector Black, who relays the journey of how he came to forgive the rapist and murderer of his daughter. I was so shocked at how big his heart was and how he found it in him to forgive someone who has done such unforgivable wrong to him. It also made me feel ashamed for holding grudges against others, who thankfully has not done anything nearly as bad to me as what Hector has experienced. The fact that each story is true and lived makes the book even more interesting than it already is. It’s a wonderful, eye-opening book that makes you see things and consider the world from a fresh renewed perspective.

2) Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

This is the third book from the writer that I have read. Blink talks about how we make snap judgments and why sometimes, these instantaneous feelings can be more right than heavily researched opinions. Malcolm Gladwell is no doubt an excellent author, and he makes all these scientific and fact heavy topics accessible, constantly making comparisons to real life scenarios and linking examples and case studies back to each other, reinforcing his findings, allowing the information to stick better. If you’re new to non-fiction, his are a great start because his writing is so accessible and not patronising in the slightest!

3) How to Be Parisian Wherever You are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits

Here’s a blog post dedicated to this book. All in all, it is an easy read, brilliantly funny and true

4) How to be both - Ali Smith

I am not a fussy reader but this book has left me so confused. It was highly recommended by other people on the internet and seems to always be on the chart and so I picked it up months ago, excited to finally read it. The story, its structure and its narrative - nothing makes sense to me and I have never looked forward to finishing a book more quickly just to get it over and done with (I don’t like starting and not finishing a book). Not on my list of recommendation, yet don’t let me stop you from giving it a go.

5) You Are a  Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life - Jen Sincero

A cult self-help book, which started off cringely optimistic but ended up being quite good. I wouldn’t say it stands out that much from other self-help books, in the sense that they all seem to be talking about similar things, giving similar advice and also reiterating things that you should know but do not have the self-discipline to already have done it. The tone is motivating, but at first, it can come off as cringy and very American. I like the fact that it recaps the main point after each chapter, which is quite helpful if you were to put everything she says in action. What I took home was the most repeated advise at the end of each chapter: Love yourself.

6) Everything I Never Told You - Celeste Ng

The fact that this is written by an American-Chinese author made me love the story even better. This story follows an American-Chinese family after the death of their daughter. It talks about the racism that Asians faces and the difficulties that mix-raced children experience growing up, as well as problems arising between the parents because of the different upbringing, social and cultural background. I find part of the stories relatable (like the pressure and expectations from parents, family dynamic etc), which makes it all the more interesting and intriguing, the fact that someone else (the author) understands! Celeste Ng writes so well I can’t wait to read more of her books.

7) Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge

As pointed out by the author, racism (especially in relation to Black people) is usually discussed in the context of American history. Reni has done many research and interviews to shed light on why race in Britain deserves just as much discussion and awareness, touching on black history, and the link between racism and feminism. She also suggests practical approaches to acknowledge and counter racism in our world today. This is such an informative and educational read, one that is desperately needed in our society today, given the political events that have happened over the recent years.

8) A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

Before I was even halfway through the book, it has already become one of my all-time favourites. This book follows the life of four friends, four American male characters and their lives over the decades. This book covers everything you wish for in a book: love, jealousy, friendship, guilt, trauma... It’s not often that you’d come across a book this thick and whisk through it so quickly that 720 pages do not seem long enough. The writing flows so well and even though I was juggling between two books at the start (because I needed a lighter book to take with me on the metro), I had no problem getting back into this one every time I picked it up again and very soon, I couldn’t put it down and was extremely sad to finish it (both because of the story and also knowing that I will have a hard time searching for something as good as this book)

9) The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Heather Morris

I finished this in a day - a true and touching love story between Lale and Gita, written in the form of a diary. Lale retold and entrusted his experience in the Camp to Heather Morris, who effectively replicated it in a convincing and persuasive piece. Although not as heavy as Anne Frank’s Diary, since it is historical fiction, rather than an autobiography, you’d be shocked at how much the couple has gone through, individually and separately and how miraculous their love story was. Reading Heather recounting her meetings with Lale and his son, you can believe she has done so much to stick to the truth while adding certain elements in the book to recreate the suspense and drama. If you enjoy The Book Thief and All the Lights We Cannot See, you’ll enjoy it.

10) Why Social Media Is Ruining Your Life - Katherine Ormerod

I heard about this book on this episode of the Ctl, Alt Delete podcast hosted by Emma Gannon. Her interview with Katherine Ormerod opened my eyes (ears) to see (hear) the truth behind these glamours Instagram accounts, which I already know, but not to this extent. The book elaborates on it, sure it tells you things that you should already know, but more than that, it’s packed with interviews and quotes from real life bloggers talking about the prices they pay to ‘live’ the life they have, plus, Katherine has lived and is still living that life herself, and so this book is full of first hand experiences. It’s also divided into sections, linking social media to motherhood, politics and work etc. It’s an informative read for sure and even more so in this age where social media is so dominating.

11) The Paris Wife - Paula McLain

I got this book from Shakespeare and Company, for the stamp and also, since I am in Paris, I thought I should read something that is set here. This book was one of the ones that caught my eye, from the many lists of ‘Books set in Paris’ that I googled and consulted. Written from Hemingway’s first wife, Hedley’s, point of view, I find it difficult to separate myself from the book. I find myself constantly bringing my anger towards the male characters and sympathy for the narrator to life, through the conversations I have with my boyfriend, projecting and magnifying my despise for the male characters onto others in real life (for that, I apologise.) But this just goes on to show how great the writing is and how easy it is to sympathise and get lost in the book. I have become obsessed with Ernest Hemingway’s life, in particular, his relationships with women and I reminded myself to re-read another book on the infamous writer and his wives, Mrs Hemingway by Naomi Wood.

[chantellehere]

A magical day?

Ten years ago, Hannah took me and my brother to Hong Kong Disneyland. Ten years later, she came to visit me in Paris and we went to Disneyland Paris for the first time.

Growing up, going to Disneyland was my biggest dream. At the age of ten, my parents took us to Tokyo Disneyland. Few years after, this magical place was brought to me in Hong Kong and I must have been there about twenty times by now (I had an annual pass, for several years). Even before I came to Paris, I’ve always wanted to visit the French Disneyland and within two months of being here, I get to go there with one of my oldest friends.

Unfortunately, being organised and booking in advance does not always work in your favour, especially when it comes to planning a trip. The weather in Paris had been temperamental lately, so you’d never know what tomorrow’s going to be like - even the weather forecast app on my phone seems confused. And knowing my luck, it rained like cats and dogs on the day we went to Disney. Nonetheless, we were determined to enjoy ourselves and go on as many rides as we could - the up-side of having bad weather is that the queues are likely to be shorter. 

The park was more or less similar to the one in Hong Kong, bigger because there are two parks (the other being the Studio) but the Disneyland Park itself felt much smaller than what I had expected. It has five “districts” (“lands” I suppose) - Main Street U.S.A., Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and DIscoveryland (Tomorrowland in Hong Kong). 

Thoughts on the rides:

Our favourite rides were probably the Big Thunder Mountain and the Star Wars Hyperspace. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was highly recommended when we did our research but the way the seats and the safety thing worked, our heads were bouncing from side to side throughout the entire minute and a half and all we felt was a massive headache, which wasn’t fun. 

We also went on a few tamer rides, the ones where you sit in a car that takes you through the Disney stories. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White) was pretty scary and they missed out a whole chunk of the story (it went from the Witch holding an apple and Snow White was nowhere to be found to Snow White and the Prince getting married - who even is this guy?!)  You can’t really go wrong with ‘It’s a small world’ as it is basically the same ride in every Disneyland - I think the miniatures were better made in Hong Kong, just saying. Peter Pan’s Flight was nicely decorated but like all of the rides, they are maximum two minutes long, which is pretty disappointing when you queue for half an hour to an hour, in the rain. Pirates of the Caribbean was probably the best one out of all four.

Alice’s Curious Labyrinth was a fun outdoor maze to go through and Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin was a pretty cool corridor to walk through and refamiliarise yourself with the story.

The place, especially Fantasyland, was so magical I wish I lived there but to be honest, the rides were slightly disappointing. Having said that, we were only there from 10am to 6:30pm - we didn’t see the parade nor the illuminations, we didn’t even meet Mickey Mouse itself! If we had an extra day or two, we could’ve seen more shows and went on more rides - maybe that would’ve changed our perspective of the entire experience. We also only got tickets to the Park and not the Studio so maybe all the fun is on the other side? We don’t know. But honestly, I feel like I loved the idea of being there more than the actual experience itself, which was a shame. Perhaps next time, on a sunnier day, I should revisit and see what the rest of the park has to offer.

There was, is and always will be a place in my heart for Disney.

[chantellehere]

Weekend getaway at Bretagne & Normandy

I woke up today with dread - it’s Monday again and I’m back in my bed in Paris. (Strange, as I never thought I’d be dreading to be living in a beautiful city like Paris!)

Already looking forward to the next weekend, I looked back at my weekend away and wish it lasted longer than 48 hours.

Last weekend, I signed up for a two-day trip to Bretagne (Brittany) and Normandy with La voyagerie Parisienne, a company that organises trips for Erasmus and international students living in Paris. The trip costed about €90 for early bird ticket. For that amount, we got our transport to and from Paris, accommodation, breakfast and tours around the two cities.

Honestly, the journey was long and exhausting. We met and got on the coach at half 7 on Saturday morning and it took us at least four hours before we reached our first destination - Dinan, a cute little village in Bretagne. It was indeed very little, and on a weekend, the town was quiet, with only two groups of tourists (we were one of them) and a few locals enjoying some drinks in the sun. After walking through Château de Dinan (the view from the bridge was gorgeous) and the Basilique Saint-Sauveur de Dinan, we tried and failed to find a restaurant that served hot foot and was open at half three and resorted to a creperie to satisfy our hunger. We’ve had better crêpes (my first bite was soaked in butter) but the place was cute.

About half an hour, 45 mins coach journey, we reached Dinard beach. Lucky for us, the sun was out. First thing first, we got ourselves some snacks (we hadn’t had dessert yet). Not much to do there if you hadn’t got your swimsuits, so we walked along the beach and up the path on the far right, passed the casino. On the other side of the beach, there were some expensive looking houses/ mansions. The whole thing looked like a postcard. Unreal. We spent an hour there, which for not going into the sea/ not eating at the overpriced restaurants/ gambling in the casino, I’d say it was enough time. Maybe half an hour extra we could’ve gone all the way to the end of the path but it was windy and I was not too bothered.

Just as we thought we would have a chilled night in, the group leader announced that we were heading out for a big one. Us au pairs were not physically or mentally prepared but did not want to be a party pooper so we decided to have a quick half an hour nap before we went to grab something quick to line our stomachs.

It was only half 9 but every single restaurant was closed or too expensive until we reached this tiny tiny “kebab” place where there were only ten seats inside. It was better than it sounded. Everything was fresh and they had an extensive menu of snacks, rather than just kebab. We all ordered burgers and chips, which did their job of filling our stomachs, ready to absorb the alcohol.

In a dead town like Dinard, there was only one club 30 minutes walk away from the hotel. We pre-drank outside near the grass before heading in. Whilst we were not expecting a mad scene, we did not expect to find three elderly (well, over 50, elderly for the nightlife) couples snogging and grinding on each other. Thank goodness we were pleasantly tipsy. During the night, as the club filled up, there was a mid-fifty-year-old lady, alone, dancing in the middle of the dance floor and around us (we were in a group of around 8-10) and she began to dance with the boys, getting through one after another. At first, it seemed funny and the boys did it as a joke, but all of a sudden, she started grabbing their arses and their groins. She even asked one of the guys to go home with her. She could be our grandmother! I wonder what went through her mind during dinner to end up coming out at night, on her own, to harass young men. Disgusting.

Sunday was the ‘big’ day, as we visited the most popular tourist attraction outside of Paris - Mont St Michel. An island in the middle of the sea, connected to Normandy. A four (but took us six, including a half an hour break) hour drive from Paris. The place was stunning. And to imagine it all being built on a rock from the 10th century! 

We stayed on the island for five hours, including a two-hour tour around the castle and lunch (poor service and the food was not worth what we paid for - the view was good though, but you can enjoy the same view with a baguette in hand for less. It was the perfect amount of time. We even got to sunbathe for half an hour before hopping on the free shuttle back to where our coach parked.

All in all, we probably spent big half of a day travelling but these two north-western cities in France were worth the literal pain in the arse (from sitting on the coach) to get to.

[chantellehere]

Hangover Saturday

After a month, I finally came out of my shell (more like my bed) and went on a night out with several friends last Friday night. We pre-ed at one of their flats to keep the cost low and spirit high before we headed towards the Latin Quarter for more booze and danced the night away.

I woke up the next day with a hangover but the sun was out and the weather was great, I was determined to get on with my day, although I had to move fairly slowly and sheepishly due to my lack of sleep and fragility.

Hungry, we walked lazily to the weekend market in the 7th arrondissement, closed to the Eiffel Tower. At the sight of the colourful fruits and vegs, and the smell of mature cheese and freshly roasted poulet rôti, we straightened our spines and picked up our pace, hurried towards the stalls. It was a perfect start to my hungover Saturday morning. Not only do they have the classic boulangeries, fromageries, and the fruit and veg stalls, you also get florists, antiques and clothing (although very different from what you would find on the high street). The merchants all wore a smile on their faces, hoping to lure you into buying some of their produce. Some were giving out samples, others were shouting out greetings. Many locals were picking out their weekly groceries as they chatted away with the store owners. The atmosphere was great, busy yet calm, and everyone was pleasant and friendly, just what I needed after a mad night out.

LVMH - the umbrella company for Givenchy, Dior, Louis Vitton obviously, and Moët Hennessy just to name a few - had decided to open their ateliers to the public to showcase the studios where they create their million dollar worth bags and haute couture (I learnt the definition for this from watching Constance Wu’s interview on the Late Show.) But obviously, everyone in Paris was interested in seeing the place where all these fashion magic took place and us - two foreigners, hungover and, me more poorly dressed than my friend - we couldn’t get in. Well, we could if we were to wait but the queue was estimated to be three hours long and we just did not have the patience to stand in the heat, wasting our day away.

So, naturally, we decided to grab a coffee near the Jardin de Palais-Royal. As we walked, we got hungrier and were craving something more than just a coffee, preferably solid and chewable. so we came to Rue des Petits Champs and we found ourselves surrounded by tens of Japanese restaurants - my idea of heaven! This tiny little place in the corner caught my eye and without considering the many other options that were shouting our names, we walked in and had the best meal in Paris.

This is probably a huge cliché but nonetheless true - the chefs and staffs were all Japanese, or French Japanese at least, which reassured me of the restaurant’s authenticity. I also noticed that many of the customers were Asians. Again, no offence, but we Asians have the best sense of taste, which makes complete sense when we invented the best cuisine in the world. Just saying. Who doesn’t love a good Chinese or Katsu?

We ordered as soon as we sat down and waited eagerly for our ramen to come. The whole place was filled with the strong Ramen soup aroma. I'd be attracted to someone who wore a fragrance with that smell (more Shoyu than Miso for me). Our Shio and Shoyu Ramen came not long after and were emptied even sooner. It was just like the kind of Ramen you can get from Japan - I’m not going to get into it in depth for I am not a food critic, as much I love criticising everyone and everything, but the elasticity was on point and the meat was sooo well done! The soup was a little bit too salty for me but I have a sensitive kidney and I did choose Shoyu so I supposed that is why. But honestly, I am so glad we found this little place and am definitely coming back regularly, more so if I earned a bit more but it was definitely the best €13 I have spent since I got here!

Best hangover ever.

[chantellehere]

My new HQ

I’m currently sat in this cute and spacious cafe near the Louvre. The clock is ticking and as each minute passes, my wallet empties a little bit more.

Anticafé is nothing like your usual cafe. It is a work-place cafe. You don’t pay for any drinks or snacks here. Instead, you pay for the time you spent in this calm and modern setting, working away on that essay you’ve left till last minute or simply typing up a blog post. For €5, you not only get to enjoy an hour of peace and quiet whilst you hustle but also an unlimited supply of food and beverage. Snacks include a variety of biscuits, fruits, fromage blanc and salad. They also serve hot and cold drinks with the option of using milk alternative (soy milk) for the lactose intolerants, vegans and those who are simply being difficult, like me.

*I have now left and am typing from my own room*

*We stayed for around two hours, which came up to €9,50/ €9,05 with student discount - remember your student cards kids!*

This place is also pretty instagrammable, which is always a bonus, amirite?

Whilst it’s calm, this place is not completely silent. The girl next to me had her earphones in but the music was playing on full blast so for two hours, and so I listened to the Top 40 Pop Chart as I revised my passe compose and l’imparfait. People chat, discuss their work or moan about their lives here. The barrister prepares cup after cup of caffeine to compensate for the not-so-cheap price you pay per hour/ minute after the first hour. So, naturally, I had two cups of tea and a cup of soy mocha, had a bowl of watermelons and some biscuits, just to get my money's worth.

Would I come back to this place? Probably, but not often though, as I feel like I can still get the unlimited buffet and peace here at home without having to pay €10 each time. (Perks of living with the family) But it is definitely a nice place to go with a friend or when you are struggling to concentrate at home since your desk is right next to your bed (which seems to be calling your name every few minutes) and the kitchen is right next door!

All in all, Anticafé offers a refreshing concept. Go there with an empty stomach to make your trip and money worthwhile! The first hour is €5, or €24 for the day. Should you feel the need to come here regularly, they do a monthly plan of €240.

For however long you spend in there, you get unlimited drinks and beverage (non-alcoholic obvs) and pretty good wifi too! There are also board games to make procrastination more fun.

Before you take a seat, go to the counter and get yourself a card, which records the time you spend in the cafe. Ask about the membership to get further discounts. For students, you already get 10% off any extra time you spend after the first hour. 

Keep hustling!

[chantellehere]

How to be Parisian wherever you are

I’ve seen this book many times online and in stores but I never thought I’d ever read it, partly because I never thought this would apply to me, ever, and partly because it is £16.99 for what I thought was a useless coffee table book. It is très pretty and definitely not useless. I am even this close to telling you that it will be the best £16.99 you have ever spent on a book (unless you are savvy like me, you’d look on Amazon or other online bookstores with student discount.)

So I woke up on Monday and saw this book lying on the sofa. The book looked basically brand new, I thought, did the family get it for me as a token of appreciation? I was quite giddy and excited for them to present this to me. However, the parents are hard workers so Monday passed and the kids and I went to bed without seeing them.

Tuesday came and the mum was home in the morning, packing for her four-day work trip to Bordeaux. I casually walked into the living room, picked up the book and started flipping through it, admiring its Parisian looking cover and feeling all smug because I was convinced that this will soon be mine. Alas no, the mum came in and announced ‘Ah! This is what I wanted to show you. My colleagues gifted it to me when I first moved to Paris.’ Gutted. I was hoping for a different kind of speech and why didn’t I announced my departure a month before and organised a French-themed farewell party as an excuse for people to shower me with gifts. Anyways, it is clear that the ownership of this book does not belong to me but someone else, but I was permitted to read through it and was warned about its accuracy and humour.

Let’s just put it out there - I finished this book in two days, in which I spent half the time running after and taking care of two monkeys. This book is addictive. It is so easy to read and flows smoother than my kid’s buttcheeks/ your lover’s sweet-talking (whichever floats your boat). So this book is written by four fashional and authentic Parisian ladies, who all have gone to on to become successful in their chosen path (one of them is a model and the rest works in film and media. This thick little book is split into five sections - Get the Basics, Own Your Bad Habits, Cultivate Your Allure, Dare to Love and Parisian Tips. And within these sections, you get subsections, such as a list of handbags essentials, recipes to impress your guest and tips on how to cheat on your significant other and so on. These subsections are short and sweet, lasting no longer than three pages each, or four max, including photos and illustrations. 

I particularly liked the fashion advise, movies recommendations and ways to spend time like a Parisian. In there, you can find a list of what a Parisian woman must have in their handbags and what you will definitely not find in their wardrobe. Explanation unnecessary and omitted - you should have figured it out yourself. (UGG boots. Enough said.) The style varies from bullet points to paragraphs, just like if you were rushing in and out of the metro with them at peak hour and then finally sitting down at the chic cafe down the street with them, while they blabber at you all the while, nonstop. They are witty and sarcastic, yet straight to the point. As you read, you will be transported into the hotel bar they highly recommended you to go to with these four ladies, having a quick drink - boire un verre - with them whilst they fill you in with all the dos and don’ts in this wonderful city. But unlike your dull and monotonous city guides, these ladies offer you life tips - tips on throwing a good party (recipes attached, conversation suggested), destabilising a man, french drinking games to go with your vin rouge and draws out the ideal man for you. Should you find that ideal man but realise it isn’t working out, how to cheat on him.

They are snobbish and they know it, which makes it almost acceptable. And just like us, they can be unreasonable at times but you wouldn’t think so because you can see a bit of you in them. They don’t shoot out recommendations like spit but sing them out poetically. They justify some of the weird or perhaps unacceptable ways they act with sass and dignity. It is honestly hilarious and educational all at the same time.

All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable read, and probably time that I had in Paris so far. I definitely know much more about how to dress and where to go for various purposes and intentions. If your host family is paying you so generously that you have £16.99 to spare, spend it on this book - give up the chocolat chaud and croissant for a weekend or two. You will thank me later. If you have more than £16.99 to spare and enough to buy two copies of this book, make sure you gift me the second one. If you’re living on the edge of being underpaid, see if your host family, or one of your richer friends, has a copy to lend you. (I doubt your stingy host mum would gift it to you if she’s already borderline abusing the system and paying you only €300 per week)

For the nation-au-pairs, you have no excuse not to get it.

Your life will be transformed, more Parisian, less basic.

[chantellehere]

A rainy day in Paris

I have been very lucky with the weather in Paris. I remember when I visited this time two years ago, the weather was much colder and wetter. Yesterday, it rained for only the second time since I arrived one month ago, and having lived here for 1/12 of the year, I finally figured out a good and relaxing way to spend a rainy day in Paris, which hopefully will brighten up the gloomy day for all those who are travelling to this beautiful city.

Rainy days are the best excuse for a lazy morning. I had a lie in and woke up just before 10. I made myself breakfast - the classic fruits and yoghurt. For those who are travelling, I suggest you head to any of the boulangeries around you - any of them will have plenty of pain au chocolat or croissant in store. Many of which also do a brunch menu during the weekend. You can enjoy your morning meal slowly with a cup of coffee or have your food and drinks on the go. I always take mine to a park nearby and have my breakfast there. 

After my meal, I met up with a friend and headed to the Louvre. I mean, if you did not visit the Louvre, did you even come to Paris? The Lourve, famous for being the biggest art collection in Europe, as well as the residence for the small but mighty portrait of Mona Lisa. Every time I walk into the room where the painting is, I immediately feel bad about the rest of the art that are so unfortunately placed in the same room as Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, as they often get little to no attention from the museum visitors. I always find it ridiculous that people try to get a picture of the painting, or any paintings as if they would go home and look at them. Let’s be honest, 90% of us would not even look at the pictures we took not of ourselves once after we have left the place, am I right?

Wandering around the Louvre, you can find windows looking out to the exterior of the museum. Some of them are right next to the benches and I find it rather meditative to sit down after an hour of hectic art education, to look out at the ever-busy and touristy street, while sitting quietly in one of the most magnificent archives of the world.

Do not expect to see everything in the Louvre. It is ginormous and frankly, not everything is worth seeing. The best way to do it is to have a plan to tackle the few major pieces of art that you must see, then spend some time in the Jardin des Tuileries just outside of the museum. It is so wonderful even in the rain - walk through it to get to the metro station or to your next destination if the weather does not permit you to sit down leisurely around the fountain.

After spending two hours in the Louvre, we headed to one of the cutest cafes in Paris for a quick bite and some drinks. To get there, you have to walk through the Jardin du Palais-Royal, which is another beautiful place to be whatever the weather decides to be. If the weather permits, I highly recommend sitting in the garden, again, around the fountain/ pond, with your friends, or simply to read and spend some quality time alone and enjoy the view. As you reach nearer the end of the green tunnel, you will find several cafes on your left, and Cafe Kitsuné is the one in the middle.

This cafe is the perfect independent coffee shop for all parties. You will see elderlies, friends and families sitting outside of the coffee shop underneath the big umbrellas, chatting away whilst enjoying their pastries and hot drinks. The cafe itself is fairly small, with only several stools along the right side of the wall for customers to sit and enjoy their beverage. Nonetheless, it is decorated nicely with many of its own merchandises that are available for purchase, like sweaters, reusable cups, stationaries and coffee beans.

We got ourselves some hot chocolate (€5), a chai latte with almond milk (€5,50) and a chocolate chip cookie (€3,50) and sat outside facing the garden. Our drinks, even the hot chocolate, came decorated with latte art. The waitresses spoke in English, which was helpful as I was reluctant to showcase my broken French in public.

Beware of the pigeons! They are everywhere, especially if you got yourself a pastry from the cafe. They can be like your annoying child, hovering around your ankles, waiting for you to drop that piece of brownie or cookie crumbs! But I suppose this would make the perfect Parisian experience, no?

[chantellehere]

Paris Fashion Weekend

I am now comfortably settled into this place where I call home after two weeks. 

The kids are getting used to me and throwing less tantrum and I am more comfortable conversing in French with them, although I am still constantly repeating the only five words I know in French... but hey, I’m getting there.

I was really looking forward to this weekend - Paris Fashion Weekend - as I was determined to spend my kids-free 48 hours wandering around the city of Paris bumping into celebrities.

I have to admit - on Thursday, Paolo and I already went to Champs Elysee - a street stinks of wealth - and walked along the same street outside the hotel where Lindsay Lohan was staying (Paolo saw her two days ago right there having lunch on the terrace, couple of days before she allegedly tried to ‘take refugee kid from parents’), looking suspicious with our high street backpacks and feeling completely out of place, with the hope of meeting anyone but LiLo herself. Of course, we saw no one but a few extravagantly dressed Millenials (most likely try-to-be fashion bloggers) in neon pink and glittery silver outfits. Beurk! 

Saturday was chilled and I did meet Emanuele D'Angelo, the founder of Livin Cool (a brand highly endorsed by celebrities, like Emrata, Bella Hadid etc) but because I was not ready to pay €50 for a crop top, I did not dare to ask for a photo. 

A few of us met up in this nice little pub called the Teddy’s Bar in the Latin Quarter for a drink or two. (I had the Banana Baileys - one of Teddy’s specials) This place had an adequate selection of cocktails for €6,50 to 7,50 during Happy Hour, which is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the bars in central Paris. (Although it is extortionately priced compared to The Font in Manchester, where you can get cocktails for as little as £2!) I have to say, I am not a huge fan of its interior design - leopard print wallpapers with hundreds of teddy bears hanging on the wall, one, in particular, was a fake Winnie the Pooh with the word ‘SEXY’ printed on its read top *smh*. The atmosphere was decent and the bartender was attentive, with a nice French accent. (I do know I am in Paris.) I had a great time catching up with my friends and having some of our burning questions about American culture answered - I now know what a corndog and a sloppy joe are and I do not think I want to try either of them.

Overall, Teddy’s was a lovely little bar with an extensive drinks menu and good vibe, although I would recommend staying away from the Daquari.

That night I got no sleep at all.

TBC

[chantellehere]

I lost my kid!

Three days in and I’ve already committed the unforgivable sin of au-pairing, or just adulting in general - I lost the kid!

I should have insisted that I walked all the way to school with him this morning, instead of letting him walk the last 20 metres by himself whilst I hurriedly carried his sister to her nursery.

Did he even make it to the school? No idea.

Literally, the night before, he was telling us about this kid that was taken into a taxi by some stranger - which we suspected was a creation of his imagination, rather than something that actually happened. However, today, I wonder - and feared - whether this was real.

I waited in front of the school until the last kid has left and just before the porter started closing the gate, I asked her, in broken French, if she spoke any English and if my kid was there. Her answers to both questions were no. She then also said a bunch of things to me which I did not understand a word of. I had no chose but to give myself up and phoned the mum to tell her about her missing child.

I passed the phone to the teacher so that the mum could speak directly to her to investigate the matter. I waited nervously while the porter gibbered her way in French. I was already mentally packing my belongings to get the next flight home.

What felt like an hour later, the porter passed the phone back to me and the mum said calmly, “You’re in the wrong school.” It was the next one round the corner.

Thank the Lord. At least the kid is safe and alive!

I graduated from Law school yet I cannot even pick the kids up from the right school. What an idiot.

[chantellehere]

Je suis fatiguée

The dreaded moment has come - time to pick the kids up from school.

Expectation: 

Get the kids, ask them about their day (enough conversation for our 4-minute walk home), give them snacks and they go off to do their homework/ play, anything to give you peace and quiet.

Reality:

So on my first day, I was so excited I arrived two minutes before the bell rang. I walked up two flights of stairs, entered the classroom and collected my kid.

'Ça va, ma chérie?’

All I got was a nod.

We finally reached the bottom of the staircase and the school entrance five minutes later, and before I could finish uttering the phrase ‘à demain’ to the bouncer, ‘waaaaaaah je... suis... fatiguée’. I looked over - tears and snorts were streaming down her little face. (Note to self: bring tissue) But I was prepared. I was told that she would test my limit as the new au pair and should insist on her walking by herself. She is already three and a half after all. 

I insisted, and so did she. It was a long and exhausting journey. What should have been a four-minute walk home took 40 minutes (no exaggeration added) and by the time we got home, both of us were très fatiguées.

Alors, put this on repeat, 5 days a week.

I bet you, too, will be fatigue.